Which Philosophy courses should I take?

For more information, talk to a Philosophy Undergraduate Advisor. We'll be happy to advise you about which course is best suited for you. This document includes general advice.

To start:
Any 100- or 200-level course is a good introduction to philosophy. If you are already interested in philosophy, we recommend you begin with a
200-level course, since the 100-level courses are larger and you would have less contact with the instructor in them.

Succeeding courses
Beyond your first philosophy course, you should choose courses based on your interests. To help you, here are some courses grouped broadly by subject. For a bulletin course description see the course listing.

  • Art
    • Philosophy 327 Aesthetics
  • Epistemology: see Knowledge
  • Ethics and Value Theory (see also Political Philosophy)
    • Philosophy 106 Philosophy and Current Issues
    • Philosophy 213 Medical Ethics
    • Philosophy 220 Elements of Ethics
    • Philosophy 320 Ethical Theory
    • Philosophy 323 Topics in Applied Ethics
    • Philosophy 423/823 Advanced Ethics
  • History
    • Philosophy 223 Introduction to the Philosophy of History
  • History of Philosophy
    • Philosophy 231 History of Ancient Philosophy
    • Philosophy 232 History of Modern Philosophy
    • Philosophy 331 Hellenistic Philosophy
    • Philosophy 332 Spinoza
    • Philosophy 333 History of Philosophy 19th Century
    • Philosophy 335 Medieval Philosophy
    • Philosophy 340 Contemporary Analytical Philosophy
    • Philosophy 341 Contemporary Continental Philosophy
    • Philosophy 450/850 Ancient Philosophy
    • Philosophy 460/860 History of Modern Philosophy
    • Philosophy 471/871 Kant
  • Knowledge
    • Philosophy 301 Theory of Knowledge
    • Philosophy 409/809 Theory of Knowledge
  • Law
    • Philosophy 230 Philosophy of Law
  • Logic and Reasoning
    • Philosophy 110 Introduction to Logic and Critical Thinking
    • Philosophy 211 Introduction to Modern Logic
    • Philosophy 411/811 Formal Logic
  • Medicine
    • Philosophy 213 Medical Ethics
  • Metaphysics
    • Philosophy 302 Introduction to Metaphysics
    • Philosophy 314 Problems in the Philosophy of Mind
    • Philosophy 418/818 Metaphysics
  • Mind
    • Philosophy 314 Problems in the Philosophy of Mind
  • Political Theory
    • Philosophy 221 Political Philosophy
    • Philosophy 325 Advanced Social Political Philosophy
    • Philosophy 425/825 Political and Social Philosophy
  • Psychology
    • Philosophy 216 Introduction to Psychology and Philosophy
  • Religion
    • Philosophy 116 Philosophy and Religious Belief
    • Philosophy 265 Philosophy of Religion
  • Science
    • Philosophy 216 Introduction to Psychology and Philosophy
    • Philosophy 317 Philosophy of Science

    • Pre-law Students
    We recommend the following courses for a minor in philosophy for pre-law students:

    • Philosophy 211 Introduction to Modern Logic
    • Philosophy 221 Political Philosophy; or Philosophy 230 Philosophy of Law
    • Philosophy 301 Theory of Knowledge; or Philosophy 302 Introduction to Metaphysics; or Philosophy 320 Ethical Theory

    Pre-med Students
    We recommend the following courses for a minor in philosophy for pre-med students:

    • Philosophy 211 Introduction to Modern Logic
    • Philosophy 213 Medical Ethics; or Philosophy 317 Introduction to the Philosophy of Science
    • Philosophy 301 Theory of Knowledge; or Philosophy 302 Introduction to Metaphysics; or Philosophy 320 Ethical Theory